Ballads of Art and Air Chapter 1: Ballad Of Distance, an inception fanfic

Ballads of Art and Air

A series of one-shots/songfics.

Disclaimer: I own nothing! Not Inception or 36 Days (by Hawk Nelson).

Arthur ~ Ariadne
Both

Author's Note: Some will be connected, others will be AU (to an extent). All Chapters will begin with Ballad Of (Insert Word Here). Enjoy :)

Chapter One: Ballad Of Distance

Summary: They work separately, but they always come home to each other.

Gone away far from home, the weekend's over
Let's pack up and start again

"Job's done. I called our client and passed the information. The money's been wired to your accounts. Good job guys. It's been a pleasure." Analese, the extractor, concludes her speech with a nod. She bids us goodbye and makes her exit. Mitchell, the architect, scoffs and turns towards me. "She's lucky's she's hot, otherwise, she's a totally nazi." I raise an eyebrow in amusement.

"So what are your plans? Making it back to the missus?" I ask. Mitchell shakes his head. "Nah, she tossed me out months ago. I think she's sleeping with her drug dealer. What about you Mr. Point Man?" I just shake my head and push my hand forward.

"It was great working with you." I say deflecting his question. He doesn't push it and his hand meets mine.

"You too man. Hope to see you again."

Twenty days on the road, just left Port Dover (Shanghai)
With sixteen days to go

"And at last, let's toast to our fabulous architect who, without her designs, we all never would've met!" Jin, the project coordinator, raises his glass for me. The others in the table lift their glasses up too.

"To Ariadne!" The glass clink together, and everyone swallows down their drinks. I smile placidly as Jin sits back down next to me. "Thanks Jin." He nods.

"So what are your plans Ms. Ariadne after this?" I sip my alcohol before replying.

"I have another job lined up. I'm going to Australia tomorrow night to start." He gives me an incredulous look.

"Already? Girl, you need a break." The corners of my lips curl up.

"It's quite alright. It's a project I took on while doing this job. I just have to oversee the progress and changes. I'll only be there for a few weeks." He sighs.

"You need a man." I open my mouth to say something, but he turns away too quickly for me to respond. Instead, I finish my drink silently thinking of three piece suits and the man who looks best in them.

I just called my mom to tell her that I miss her
I just wrote my girl, man I can't remember
The last time I kissed her

"Hey ma." I say into the reciever. I hear my mother shuffling in the other side. I sit down on the chair in my hotel room. I open my laptop and wait for it to load. "Arthur my dear! Where have you been? Why haven't you called me lately boy?" I sigh quietly.

"Sorry ma, I've been busy." I open my browser and check my email. "Still doing that dream/stealing thing?" My mother is the only person in my family who had a vague idea of what I do for a living.

"Yeah ma." I hear her sighing on the other end. "When's the next time I'm going to see you?" I froze.

"Arthur Daniel." She chides. "I don't know ma. I'm very busy. I just wanted to say I missed you." She lets out a frustrated groan, but doesn't push the subject.

"I miss you too son." She hung up without a word, and I can't blame her. What kind of son doesn't go and see his mother every once in a while? I set the phone down and continued to check his inbox. No new messages appear, but it doesn't surprise me because I checked it when I arrived earlier. Instead I open a new email and addresses it to Ariadne:

Dear Ariadne.
How's work going? I heard the Shanghai project is—

I furiously clicks the backspace button and starts again.

Dear Ari,
How are you doing? I hope you're doing well. As for me, the current architect is such a dimwit. He's worst than Eames—

Dear Ariadne,
How are you sweetheart? I wish I hadn't taken this job. I yearn to sleep beside you again—

Ariadne,
How have you been? You don't know how incredibly lonely I am here. I still think of the night we had before—

Ari,
All I could think of is having my head between your—

Frustrated, I close the browser. I hear my phone go off. It's Analese again. She mentioned a job earlier, but didn't want to say it in front of Mitchell. Before picking it up, I quickly type a few words and send the email.

Soon I'll be at home with all my friends
After thirty-six days on the road

"Darling!" Eames' loud voice comes over from my speaker phone. I chuckle.

"Hi Eames." I set the phone on the table and open up my laptop.

"How's my favorite architect doing?" I sigh looking through some sketches as the computer loads.

"I'm fine. How about you? How's Nora?" I hope that's the name of his new girl.

"Nora's fine. Dumped me last week though. Met a lovely lady named Mim, she's the one!"

"Oh what a shame." I say sarcastically. He lets out a hearty laugh.

"We can't all be like you and young Arthur." The name of my boyfriend brightens up my mood.

"He's older than you darling, and yes, we are very lucky."

"Why? You have a boring, unimaginative stick in the mud husband."

"We're not married yet, and I love him very much." I browse through my email and find the one I've been waiting for.

Ari,
I miss you. See you soon.
Love Arthur

Lights go down, the noise has faded
We'll leave this town anticipated
Soon we'll be back on the road again

"Hey."

"It's four in the morning where I am."

"I know, I'm sorry."

"It's alright. I miss you."

"I miss you too."

"Where are you?"

"Brazil, São Paulo ."

"How's the weather?"

"Humid." She chuckles, and his heart flutters.

"Is there something wrong?" He's silent, and she knows it's not a good sign.

"I don't think it's a good idea if you join me after you're done working." She sighs in discontent.

"Why?"

"I ran into some Cobol agents while I was in Rio yesterday. That's where the job was initially. Turns out Nash was the architect and tipped them off. I was there two days when they found me. I've been on the run since." She knew about the his former team member and his disdain for him.

"How is that man still alive?" She asks, but it's more for her than him.

"Who knows? Anyways. The job was a bust, and it's not a good idea for you to find me."

"Bullshit."

"Ariadne—"

"Arthur, I miss you! I haven't seen you in months! You promised me!"

"I know. I know. I'm really sorry." He hears her sob, and inside he's killing himself.

"Are you safe?" She says after a long silence. He's half-relieved to hear her change the subject.

"Yes. I'm in a safe house for now. I won't be here long, I just need a day recovery while Eames forges some papers for me. Then I'll be on my way."

"Where will you go?" He knows she wants him to say 'Sydney', but they both know he can't. Even if he wants to.

"I'm not sure yet." There's a another silence. He shifts the phone a little bit, and he could hear her breathing.

"I love you. Come back to me."

All is lost, but not forgotten
One by one the fights we've fought

"Where the hell are you?" Arthur cringes. It's been weeks since his last attempt to contact her, and he can tell she's furious with him.

"I'm sorry."

"Damn right you're sorry! No one has hear from you in three weeks! Eames and Yusuf thought you were dead! Even Dom was worried. Asshole." I keep my mouth shut. "Why the fuck haven't you called me?"

"I wanted too, but it was too risky. They caught me in— "

"Save it. I don't want to hear it."

"But you asked—"

"Don't be cheeky with me Wright!" He's pushed into silence again. Her breathing calms down after a few minutes.

"Are you safe?"

"Yes."

"Anything broken?"

"Yes."

"Any cuts, bruises? Were you shot at?"

"No cuts, one or two bruises, and yes, but they all missed me. Awful hitmen."

"Good. Since they failed to kill you, I'll finish the job when I could get my hands on you."

"Ari—"

"Bye Arthur." She hangs up. Arthur keeps his ear pressed onto the phone.

"I love you."

And soon we'll be back on the road again
For thirty-six days

"He's safe." Cobb tells me. I sip the coffee he made for me cautiously.

"Is he now? That's nice to know." I said bitterly.

"He really does love you, you know."

"He has a lovely way of showing it."

"Ariadne—"

"Ten weeks Cobb. Ten!" She held up her fingers. "He didn't call, text, email me for three weeks. We haven't gone twelve hours without talking for years. Last thing he tells me is Cobol's after his ass. He knew fully well, that it's a stupid idea to not call me because he made me a nervous, paranoid motherfucker like he is, yet he still makes no attempt to contact me and let me know he's alive and safe." Cobb shakes his head. He's never heard me cuss like that, but this what Arthur does to me.

"Arthur's still new to this love thing."

"But he's not new to the partner thing. You guys worked together for years. He was co-dependent on you. And he's a twin for god sakes! He's always been about pairs!"

"But he's never been in love." Cobb reminds me.

"Well, we're been together for three years already. You'd think he'd know better."

"He's still learning. Give him a break. You two are both still learning." He leans forward and pulls my left hand forward. He twirls the ring around my ring finger. "Besides, you're not too mad at him."

"Oh? And what makes you think that?" I says irritated. He just smiles at me. Jerk.

We turn around, face the crowd
We're starting over, this time north of LA

"She left yesterday." Dom says as he leans against the door. I slump my shoulders.

"You were suppose to keep her here." He shrugs.

"I did my best." He moves aside to let me in. We get settle in the living room.

"Where are the kids?"

"School." I nod dumbly.

"So what did she say?"

"Well, she called you an asshole and said to shoot her if she ever sees you again." I run my fingers through my hair.

"Lovely." Dom tilts his head to the side in smypathy.

"She's angry now, but she'll get it over it soon."

"How soon? Like tomorrow soon?" He chuckles at me. Jerk.

"You guys remind me of me and Mal when we were just starting out." I want to remind him that he and Mal were twenty when they where dating as long as he and Ariadne were.

"Well we know how that ended up." As soon and the words leave my mouth, I want to take them back. It was a low blow and he doesn't deserve it. Dom freezes for a second. "Dom, I'm— "

"It's fine. Look, I understand. It's hard, but you'll make it through."

"How could be so sure?" He shrugs.

"She's still wearing the necklace."

Once again here we are, it's a new beginning
I'd live this life any day

"Welcome back Ms. Flecther." Naomi, my appointed assistant in Sydney, greets me as I make my way to baggage claim. I wave her off as I wait for my luggage. After fetching my belongings, she led me out to the car where a chauffeur was waiting for us both. She briefed me on the activities going on the project. When we reach the hotel, Noami reminds me of the dinner meeting tonight.

Once I'm checked in, I follow the bell boy to my suite.

"Don't mind me asking, but how old are you?" I look him up and down. He looks young, but I couldn't be so sure.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you never ask a woman her age?" He chuckles.

"Sorry, ma'am. It's just that you look my age, and you're staying in the most expensive suite we have. I guess I was curious."

"You're forgiven." We stay in silence until the elevator hits my floor. He brings my stuff into my room.

"How old are you?" I ask, just as curious in my own nature. He grins at me. I notice the dimples poking at his cheeks and I'm reminded of Arthur.

"I just turned twenty."

"I see. I'm twenty-six." He gives me a bewildered look.

"Whoa, I was way off." He unloads my luggage cart and then leaves. I hand him a hefty tip just to see him smile again.

After a long meeting, I return to my hotel. on the elevator, I run into the bell boy from earlier. When he spots me, he bows his head and smiles.

"Nice seeing you again ma'am." He nods my in direction.

"Call me Ariadne. Ma'am makes me sound so old."

"Ariadne. I'm Calvin." My name rolls off his tongue easily, and I catch myself smiling. I notice a bouquet of roses in his hands.

"Who are the flowers for?" He looks surprises, but smiles at me.

"Seems like I'm not the only curious one." I chuckle.

"There for you." That catches me by surprise as he hands me the bouquet.

"Should I be flattered? Because my fiancée probably wouldn't like that." Even if I'm deathly mad at him. Calvin just continues to smile.

"They're from him." He hands them to me, and the elevator doors open again.

"Goodnight Ms. Ariadne." Calvin calls out as I walk out of the elevator. As I walk into my room, I notice assorted flowers all round the living area. I walk up to the nearest bouquets (aside from the one in my hands), and pluck out the note embedded into one.

I'm sorry.

I feel so alive, though a part of me is gone
And this life I lead, is the life that I've dreamed of
Since I was the age of twelve

Sometimes I wonder if this is the life I truly want. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had gone to college like my brother had. When it to the decision of life after high school, we had gone through different paths. He enrolled in an university while I enlisted into the Marines.

As kids, we were inseparable. We had stayed in touch, but our connection broke over the years. I haven't seen him in seven years, nine months, two weeks, and six days. He's married with two kids now.

Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I just decided to go to college with him. Would I too be married with two kids? Would we still be close?

Then again, I dreamed of join the Marines ever since I was young. I wanted the glory that came along with being a Marine. Dream-sharing was a bonus. It gave me the chance to travel the world. It led me to Ariadne.

I'll never regret it.

And while I'll sing with all that is within me
After thirty-six days on the road

"Leave a message after the tone."

"Hey Arthur, I got the flowers. They were extravagant, petty, gaudy, and annoying. Seriously, you bought out the whole flower shop? You're ridiculous. Anyways, I didn't call you to chew you out. I just wanted to say thank you. I love you." Beep.

"This is Ariadne Fletcher, leave a message please."

"Hi Ari, I'm glad you enjoyed my surprise. I think I finally got rid of Cobol's trail. I can be in Sydney in a week. I can only stay for a couple of days just to make sure. Will you be busy? Call me back. I love you too." Beep.